I have read elsewhere about people topping up their water tanks from creeks/rivers. Is this ok if you run the water thru the appropriate filters before entering your tank?
Is so, what sort of pump is recommended,obviously it needs to be a submersible type,but what size,flow rate etc?
Any information is appreciated.

thanks

-- Edited by Gary and Kerry at 18:33, 2008-11-16

Gary and Kerry, we do this with a normal caravan style pump (it is also a spare, in case of a failure of the main pump). It is a 12L/min FloJet. These are not submersible, but some of the submersibles will do that job. The FloJets (and others) are self priming and have a lift capability of several metres. We use a QC hose before and after the pump of about 5M total. We do not use any fine filter on pick-up, just a 'rock filter', but we do chlorinate all our water when we fill a tank. We use liquid pool chlorine (12mg/litre free chlorine) at a rate of 4ml/100 litres of water in the tank. We then filter our water immediately before the tap as we use it. We have a 25um filter followed by a 0.5um active carbon filter. Both filters are Cumo, full size (hous style) units. They are cheaper and have longer life tan the little RV style ones. Cheers, Peter

we tend to leave the creek water to the frogs, we run out of food and drinky's long before we run out of water, even carrying the engel

but if you do pump water out, and the way that peter described is fine, just please, please, please take precaution's, only pump from a flowing source or a decent size stand of water, do not take stinky water and expect it to "clean up",  treat it with chlorine or some other type of water treatment which is readily available,  I will not state what it is that I use, as an argument always ensues so I've stopped recommending things, cant stand the bs that follows

remember that creek water, even treated, is still going to smell like creek water and the clothes or hair that you wash with it will smell like, you guessed it, creek water, you will get used to it after months of using it, but it is a bit weird at first

-- Edited by dave06 at 08:52, 2008-11-17

The type of pump you need to locate is one that has a good lift capacity ( Head ), unless you are at water level to start with. There are many filters available one that the ADF used in the survival packs was a silver nitrite filter. takes out all the crap and sterilizes the filtered product, they were on the open market a while back. If you go to one of those alternative lifestyle camp supply shops they have a whole range of gear designed to keep the great unwashed healthy while out there tree hugging . In an emergency/ survival situation you can filter creek water through a rolled up blanket/ clothing or if you wear an army style rabbit fur hat that's your filter ready made. Throw in a chlorine tab into the filtered water and wait for the 30 minute contact time to elapse . Can boil and cool if you have the time to wait.